Air cooled damper construction for foundry cupola cooling towers



April 29, 1958 s. B. HANSEN- 2,832,585

' AIR COOLED DAMPER CONSTRUCTION FOR FOUNDRY CUPOLA COOLING TOWERS FiledNov. 15,; 1 95e fin/e 72 for. $1.5. wansen (Sig/e72 United States PatentAIR COOLED DAMPER CONSTRUCTION FOR FOUNDRY CUPOLA COOLING TOWERS SvendB. Hansen, Chicago, Ill., assignor to International Harvester Company, acorporation of New Jersey Application November 15, 1956, Serial No.622,443

7 Claims. (Cl. 266--31) This invention relates to a cooling tower forfoundry cupolas and more particularly it relates to a damperconstruction for use in connection with a cooling tower arrangementassociated with melting furnaces.

The present invention concerns, particularly, a foundry cupolaarrangement wherein two furnaces are positioned in adjacent relation.The furnaces are suitably capped at their upper ends and are associatedwith a cooling tower which directs the hot gases from the cupolas to asuitable filtering apparatus such as is used in smoke and dust abatementnormally associated with installations of this type. in suchinstallations, a cooling tower is connected at its upper end by means ofa T-connection to the discharge portions of the adjacent cupolas orfurnaces. The cooling tower includes suitable washer or gas coolingmeans in the form of sprays which washes, cools and conditions the gasas it is discharged from the cupolas to the cooling water. In order towithdraw the gases, which are extremely hot, and under pressure, thecooling tower is suitably connected to a source of suction such as ahigh efficiency suction device which also has suitable means forfiltering the dust and debris from the gases which are dischargedthereto. In this manner the cupola operations are less objectionablesince the gases and combustion products are not discharged to theatmosphere, but are instead filtered and suitably cleaned. in theoperation of double cupolas and furnaces of this type it is generallythe practice to operate the cupolas alternately. In other words, duringthe operation of one cupola, the other cupola is closed with respect tothe chamber of the cooling tower. For this purpose numerous types ofdampers have been provided and in general such dampers have done asatisfactory job for a short period of time. However, in View of thehigh temperatures of the gases as they are discharged from the cupola,it has been found that the dampers have been of extremely short lifesince warping and deterioration of the dampers results in a relativelyshort time. The high temperatures of the gases which impinge or surroundthe dampers causes the dampers to deteriorate rapidly and thus theiruseful life is greatly decreased. It is a prime object of thisinvention, therefore, to provide an improved damper construction forfoundry cupolas and cooling tower arrangements.

A still further object is to provide an improved cupola construction andgas cooling arrangement having an improved air cooled damperconstruction.

A still further object is to provide an improved air cooled damper forthe cooling towers of cupolas, the said damper having passage provisionsadapted to direct air from the atmosphere through the damper for coolingthe same to prevent excessive wear and warpage resulting from the highheats to which the damper is subjected.

Still a further object is the provision of an improved air cooled damperfor foundry constructions, the said damper comprising a plurality ofspaced plates suitably connected together to form a passage incommunication with the atmosphere, whereby the said passage may receiveair from the atmosphere which may be directed through the plates tosufficiently cool the same and to prevent their warpage during thenormal use of said plates in the damper operation.

These and further object will become more readily apparent from areading of the specification when examined in connection with theaccompanying sheet of the. 'ing.

in the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational View, with certain portions broken away,of a metal smelting device comprising a pair of spaced furnaces orCupolas suitably connected to a cooling tower, the said arrangementincluding an improved air cooled damper construction;

Figure 2 is a detail sectional view taken along the line 2 gas coolingtower;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional enlarged view of a damper constructionshowing portions of a T-connector or connection for a cooling tower andcupola construction;

Figure 4- is a cross sectional View taken substantially along the lineof Figure 3.

Referring now particularly to Figure l, a metal melting device isgenerally designated by the reference character it The metal smeltingdevice it) comprises a pair of laterally spaced cupolas or furnaces 11of generally tubular construction, each of the same having a chamber E2.The cupolas or furnaces 11 may be of any conventional design forcontaining molten metal, coke, fluxes, and other ingredients designed tosuitably melt metal materials which may be contained in the units. Eachof the furnaces or cupolas ill comprises a plurality of cupola caps 13which are pivo'tally supported, as indicated at M, to the upper ends ofthe cupola 11 and which may be suitably counter-weighted by means ofcounterweights 15. These cupola caps 13 are normally in a closedposition, as indicated in the right-hand furnace 11 of Figure 1, thesaid cupola caps also being suitably controlled by means of cables 16.Further description of the cupola caps is unnecessary, since this isstandard construction, and forms no part of the present invention.

The Cupolas or furnaces it are provided with a gas cooling tower oftubular construction designated generally at 17. The gas cooling towerf7 comprises a chamber 18, the said chamber being in communication witha suitable suction and filtering device, the same not being shown, sinceit forms no part of the present invention. Sufficient to say, thesuction device and filtering apparatus is designed to draw gases fromthe upper ends of the furnaces ii to a suitable cleaning medium wherebythe said gases are completely cleaned before they are discharged to theatmosphere or suitable consubstantially 2 of Figure 1 showing one detailof a taining devices. The cooling tower 17 includes a plurality oftransversely extending tubes which suitably support spray devices Zt'ldesigned to spray the interior of the chamber l8 and to cool, clean andcondition gases which are drawn through the said chamber.

The upper ends of the cupola or furnace ii are provided with a T-shapedconnector generally designated at 21. The T-shapcd connector 21comprises pair of opposed ducts 22. which are adapted to communicatewith a vertical duct 2?. The opposed duets 22 are in communication withthe upper ends of the cupola or furnace 11 and either one of the ductsmay be placed in communication with the vertical duct 23 depending uponthe position of a damper construction generally designated at 24. p

The damper construction 24 is of an air cooled design and comprisesgenerally a tubular member 25 which is pivotally supported in openings26. disposed in the T- shaped connector 21, as particularly shown inFigure 4,

The openings 26 thus serve to journal the tubular member 25, it, ofcourse, being understood that the tubular member 25 also may be suitablysupported by other pivotal means such as bearings, journal members, notshown.

The tubular member 25 is provided at its lower end, as best shown inFigure 3, with a slot or opening 27. The damper 24 also comprises a pairof laterally spaced plates 28 which are suitably connected at theirupper ends to the tubular member 25. The plates 28 extend downwardly inconverging relation and they are suitably reinforced at their outersurfaces by means of a plt.-"ality of beads 29. The plates 28 form anair cooling passage 30 and the said passage 30 is suitably enclosed bymeans of side or end plates 31 suitably connected to the opposite endsof the plate 28. Thus the passage 30 is in communication with the slot27 and is also in communication with the chamber 18 so that air may bedirected through the open ends of the tubular member 25 through thepassage 30 and into the interior of the chamber 18.

In the operation of a metal melting device of the type indicated onlyone furnace 11 is utilized at one time and thus the damper 24 ispositioned to shut off the other cupola 11, as shown in Figure 1. InFigure 1 the lefthand cupola 11 is not in operation and thus the damper24 is swung to the position indicated with respect to the T-shapedconnector 21. In this position the furnace 11 disposed on the right-handside is in operation and gas from the upper end of said furnace isdischarged through one of the ducts 22 to the chamber 18 and from thereto a suitable cleaning and suction device.

The damper is swung to the position 24 by means of a pivot arm 32 whichis suitably connected to the tubular member 25. A cable mechanism 33 isconnected to the pivot arm 32 for suitably changing the swingingposition of the damper construction 24. In other words, the damperconstruction 24 may be swung to a position opposite to that shown inFigure 1 when it is desired to place the left-hand furnace 11 intooperation, whereupon the right-hand furnace is inoperative.

In view of the high temperatures of the gases as they leave the upperends of the furnaces, the conventional dampers soon become inoperativeand do not effectuate proper closing of the openings in view of warpingand other reasons. This is eliminated by applicants novel design whereinthe damper 24 comprises the air cooling passage 30 which permits air toenter into the open ends of the tubular member 25 through the slot 27and through the passage 30 down into the chamber 18. This air is quickto enter through the passage 3t} since the suction within the chamber 18causes downward movement of the gases and discharge from the coolingtower 1'7.

Thus it is obvious that during operation the damper construction 24 isconstantly cooled by cool air and thus warpage of the plates 28 isgreatly minimized. Such a damper construction will out-perform any ofthe conven tional designs and maintenance is held at a minimum.

It is thus obvious that the objects of the invention have been fullyachieved and that an improved damper construction has been described anddisclosed. It must be understood that changes, variations, andmodifications may occur which are definitely within the scope of thepresent invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a metal melting device comprising a pair of upright furnaceshaving gas discharge openings adjacent their upper ends, a gas coolingtower including an elongated tubular structure adapted to be connectedto a suction generating means for discharging gases from said tower, agas inlet opening adjacent the upper end of said tower, a T-shapedconnector adjacent the upper end of said tower, said connector includinga pair of horizontally opposed ducts, each duct communicating with oneof said gas discharge openings, and a vertical duct on said connectorcommunicating with said opposed ducts and the upper end of said coolingtower; a damper construction disposed in said connector, said damperconstruction comprising an open end tubular member, means pivotallyconnecting said tubular member on said connector between saidhorizontally opposed ducts and substantially centrally with respect tothe vertical duct, said tubular member having at its lower end anelongated slot, a pair of laterally spaced plates connected to saidtubular member for pivotal movement therewith, said plates extendingdownwardly in non-parallel relation whereby an extensionof the planefrom one end of one plate will intersect an extension of a plane fromthe end of the other plate, said plates providing an air passagecommunicating at its upper end with said slot and at its lower end withsaid cooling tower to provide cooling means for said damper, and meansfor pivoting said damper whereby either of said opposed horizontal ductsmay be closed with respect to said vertical duct.

2. In a metal melting device comprising a pair of upright furnaceshaving gas discharge openings adjacent their upper ends, a gas coolingtower including an elongated tubular structure adapted to be connectedto a suction generating means for discharging gases from said tower, agas inlet opening adjacent the upper end of said tower, a T-shapedconnector adjacent the upper end of said tower, said connector includinga pair of opposed ducts, each duct communicating with one of said gasdischarge openings, and a third duct on said connector communicatingwith said opposed ducts and the upper end of said cooling tower; adamper construction comprising an open end tubular member, meanspivotally connecting said tubular member on said connector between saidhorizontally opposed ducts, said tubular member having at its lower endan elongated slot, a pair of laterally spaced plates connected to saidtubular member for pivotal move ment therewith, said plates extendingdownwardly in converging relation whereby an extension of the plane fromone end of one plate will intersect an extension of a plane from the endof the other plate, said plates providing an air passage communicatingat its upper end with said slot and at its lower end with said coolingtower to provide cooling means for said damper, and means for pivotingsaid damper whereby either of said opposed horizontal ducts may beclosed with respect to said vertical duct.

3. In a metal melting device comprising a pair of upright furnaceshaving gas discharge openings adjacent their upper ends, a gas coolingtower including an elongated tubular structure adapted to be connectedto a suction generating means for discharging gases from said tower, agas inlet opening adjacent the upper end of said tower, a connectoradjacent the upper end of said tower, said connector including a pair ofopposed ducts, each duct communicating with one of said gas dischargeopenings, and a third duct on said connector communicating with saidopposed ducts and the upper end of said cooling tower, a damperconstruction disposed in said connector said damper constructioncomprising an open end tubular member, means pivotally connecting saidtubular member on said connector between said horizontally opposedducts, said tubular member having at its lower end an opening, a pair oflaterally spaced plates connected to said tubular member for pivotalmovement therewith, said plates extending downwardly in convergingrelation whereby an extension of the plane from one end of one platewill intersect an extension of a plane from the end of the other plate,said plates providing an air passage communicating at its upper end withsaid opening and at its lower end with said cooling tower to providecooling means for said damper, and means for pivoting said damperwhereby either of said opposed horizontal ducts may be closed withrespect to said vertical duct.

4. In a metal melting device comprising a pair of upright furnaceshaving gas discharge openings adjacent their upper ends, a gas coolingtower including an elongated tubular structure adapted to be connectedto a suction generating means for discharging gases from said tower, agas inlet opening adjacent the upper end of said tower, a connectoradjacent the upper end of said tower, said connector including a pair ofopposed ducts, each duct communicating with one of said gas dischargeopenings, and a third duct on said connector communicating with saidopposed ducts and the upper end of said cooling tower, a damperconstruction disposed in said connector, said damper constructioncomprising an open end tubular member, means pivotally connecting saidtubular member on said connector between said horizontally opposedducts, said tubular member having at its lower end an elongated slot, apair of laterally spaced plates connected to said tubular member forpivotal movement therewith, whereby an extension of the plane from oneend of one plate will intersect an extension of a plane from the end ofthe other plate, said plates providing an air passage communicating atits upper end with said slot and at its lower end with said coolingtower to provide cooling means for said damper, and means for pivotingsaid damper whereby either of said opposed horizontal ducts may beclosed with respect to said vertical duct.

5. In a metal melting device comprising a pair of upright furnaceshaving gas discharge openings adjacent their upper ends, a gas coolingtower including an elongated tubular structure adapted to be connectedto a suction generating means for discharging gases from said tower, agas inlet opening adjacent the upper end of said tower, a connectoradjacent the upper end of said tower, said connector including a pair ofopposed ducts, each duct communicating with one of said gas dischargeopenings, and a third duct on said connector communicating with saidopposed ducts and the upper end of said cooling tower; a damperconstruction disposed in said connector, said damper constructioncomprising an open end tubular member, means pivotally connecting saidtubular member on said connector between said horizontally opposedducts, said tubular member having an opening, a pair of laterally spacedplates connected to said tubular member for pivotal movement therewith,whereby an extension of the plane from one end of one plate willintersect an extension of a plane from the end of the other plate, saidplates providing an air passage communicating at its upper end with saidopening and at its lower end with said cooling tower to provide coolingmeans for said damper, and means for pivoting said damper whereby eitherof said opposed horizontal ducts may be closed with respect to saidvertical duct.

6. In a metal melting device comprising a pair of upright furnaceshaving gas discharge openings adjacent their upper ends, a gas coolingtower including an elongated tubular structure adapted to be connectedto a suction generating means for discharging gases from said tower, agas inlet opening adjacent the upper end of said tower, a connectoradjacent the upper end of said tower, said connector including a pair ofopposed ducts, each duct communicating with one of said gas dischargeopenings, and a third duct on said connector communicating with saidopposed ducts and the upper end of said cooling tower; a damperconstruction disposed in said connector, said damper constructioncomprising an open end tubular member, means pivotally connecting saidtubular member on said connector between said horizontally opposedducts, said tubular member having an opening,

' a pair of laterally spaced plates connected to said tubular member forpivotal movement therewith, whereby an extension of the plane from oneend of one plate will intersect an extension of a plane from the end ofthe other plate, said plates providing an air passage communicating withsaid opening and with said cooling tower to provide cooling means forsaid damper, and means for pivoting said damper whereby either of saidopposed horizontal ducts may be closed with respect to said verticalduct.

7. A damper construction for alternately opening and closing a ductleading to a chamber, the duct being adapted to convey heated fluidsunder pressure with respect to said chamber comprising; a supportassociated with said duct, a tubular member pivotally mounted on saidsupport, said tubular member having an inlet opening in communicationwith the atmosphere, a pair of laterally spaced plate members connectedto said tubular member, said plates being positioned in relative angledrelation whereby an extension of the plane from one end of one platewill intersect an extension of a plane from the end of the other plate,end walls connecting said plate members to provide with said platemembers a passage communicating with said inlet opening and with saidchamber to provide air cooling means for said damper, and meansconnected to said tubular member for pivoting said damper to open andclosed positions with respect to said duct, whereby in either positionof said damper, air may flow through said passage for cooling saiddamper.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS420,229 Keith Nov. 11, 1890 1,185,928 Olson June 6, 1916 1,202,700 FrostOct. 24, 1916 2,391,010 Dalin Dec. 18, 1945 2,574,740 Hartman Nov. 13,1951 2,667,941 Ekstrom Feb. 2, 1954

